Tag: music

“The Sing” moves from The Annie to The Inn at Babson Court

Posted on by Matthew Green

A week ago today, the group that formerly met at The Annie every Wednesday (7:00-9:30PM) to sing together had it’s first session at it’s new home, The Inn at Babson Court.

It was a perfect evening, weather-wise:

It was also a perfect evening for singing. We had a great turn-out, and Paul and Don gave us a great welcome to their inn, which provides an elegant and intimate setting for an evening of music.

 Click here for more photos of the evening:

 

Come and join us! We sit in a circle and take turns singing songs of any genre, with or without acoustic instruments.  We often join in with the songs if we know them, harmonizing or just singing the refrain.  No formal training or professional experience expected or required – the group includes everything from pros to people who usually only sing in the shower.  Or, come along just to listen! BYOB, and snacks to share are a welcome contribution.  A $5 donation is requested.

 

– Fr. Matthew Green

Sing-Along on the schooner Adventure

Posted on by Matthew Green

On Saturday, Sept, 1, during the Schooner Festival, there was a pot-luck supper and sing-along on the schooner Adventure, docked on Rocky Neck. It was a great time!  I was there last year too, and this is the sort of the thing that makes me so glad to be in Gloucester!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More photos can be found here.

-Fr. Matthew Green

“The Sing” at The Annie

Posted on by Matthew Green

Come join the fun at The Annie every Wednesday night at 7PM for two and a half hours of musical sharing.  We sit in a circle in the Art Parlor and take turns singing (or playing acoustic instruments, or both), and if others know the song, they join in.  All genres are welcome!  Prior experience singing in public is NOT necessary – it’s just about sharing our love for music, whether you are a pro, or usually only sing in the shower… It’s a very informal setting. People can also bring snacks or beverages to share. There is a $5 recommended donation per person.  We have a pretty steady group of regulars, but there is also many people who come whenever their schedule allows.  Here are some photos from past “sings”:

 

 

Michael Foley (below) is not only a musician, but also a stone carver.

 

Alexander Thompson brought some of his new organic variety of “Ma’s Brand” tomato marmelade:

In between his turns to sing, he was designing the label for the jars:

 

 

Ernie Pigeon, the organizer of The Sing:

When it’s not our turn for singing, some of us also do other artsy things while we listen, like knitting, drawing, or origami!  Or you can just sit and listen and admire the art show in the art parlor.

– Fr. Matthew Green

 

 

 

After Hours at the Cape Ann Museum

Posted on by Matthew Green

If you were not at the Cape Ann Museum Summer “After Hours” event last Thursday, August 16, you really missed out!  This museum is one of the under-recognized jewels in Cape Ann’s cultural crown.

There was great music, great food from Alchemy,  live music/dance pieces featuring Sara Slifer, Kristen Miller, and 3rian King… and the personable staff and breathtaking art that you can always find at the Cape Ann Museum. Here are some photos.

Their next event is today at 3PM:

Elyssa East, author of Dogtown: Death and Enchantment in a New England Ghost Town, will discuss Hartley’s sixteen-year relationship with Cape Ann and how it changed his life and work. $10 Museum members; $15 nonmembers. Reservations are required; to make a reservation please call (978)283-0455 x16 or email info@capeannmuseum.org. Dogtown Lecture series generously sponsored by Cape Ann Savings Bank.

– Fr. Matthew Green

“He who does not eat cheese, will go mad.”

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

This French proverb is printed on T Shirts and hangs over the door at The Cave — 44 Main St.  For some reason, it took Vickie and me 3 weeks to get there, but we finally made it yesterday and boy are we glad we did.  Then we took our bounty to a friend’s house.  The best way to  enjoy good food is with good friends, each being enhanced by the other.  Check out the video to see what we got and how it tasted.

Laura, who owns The Cave, tells me she’s got a 3 year lease and they will be open year round.  Sounds like a plan to me.  Vickie and I will be in again soon.

Just as The Cave has something for every palate, tonight there’s music for every possible taste on Cape Ann from string quartet to bluegrass to rock, soul, reggae, pop, New Orleans jazz, blues, metal, singer/songwriters — you name it.  Don’t stay home.  Check the live music lineup and get out on the town!

38 artists at 21 venues this weekend. How do you choose?

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

No, you can’t see them all.  You’re just gonna have to pick your favorites.  We can help.  First, you can see a complete live music lineup here.  And if you’re not sure who you might like, you can  see 15 Artists of the week in over 75 videos too.

Here are a very few suggestions in various genres (this is NOT an exhaustive list of who you might enjoy — see that here)

If you’ve never seen rocker Ned and the Big Babies, you should  catch them tonight at the Rhumb Line.  You’ll be dancin’ — believe me.

If you missed The Runaround Sound high energy ska, reggae, punk-rock band at the Boulevard on July 3, you can catch them tonight at Capt Carlo’s and tomorrow at the Rhumb Line.   You’ll get a workout if you go to both shows, so no need to go to the gym this weekend.

If you like New Orleans Jazz & Blues and you missed Henri Smith opening for Aaron Neville on June 30, you can catch him at the Brew Pub on Saturday (see Henri Smith videos here)  Henri is also opening the Gloucester Blues Festival on August 11.

Also on Saturday is the latest in T Max’s concert series at the Dog Bar.  This time he mixes bluegrass from Tom Eaton & Pick 3 with singer/songwriter Jon Waterman and his own style that’s a must-see but impossible to peg.

On Sunday music begins at 10:30am at Seaward Inn in Rockport and continues all day with two free outdoor concerts: Michael O’Leary’s Celtic music at Halibut Point State Park at 2:30 and the Compaq Big Band at Stage Fort Park at 7pm.

Remember this a very small list of a few highlights.  Check all shows before you decide where to go.

Something Big that Chronicle Missed

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Gloucester has been featured on Chronicle once again and this time they focus on tourism, art, fishing & Fiesta — mostly the greasy pole.  And while the show sheds a fairly good light on Gloucester, it misses one of the our City’s main attractions  — Gloucester’s burgeoning music scene (see tonight’s live music lineup here).

That’s why we’re so lucky to have lured T Max here — publisher of The Noise (New England’s longest running music magazine).  The new issue features stories about music on Cape Ann as well as music on that shark-infested cape named after a fish.  (On the web, the stories are after the features on Brad Byrd from Cape Ann and The Parkington Sisters from Cape Cod).

I was going to thank T Max for the honor of being chosen to write the story about Cape Ann (read it here), but instead I’ll  complain that what I had feared has come to pass: good musicians whom I neglected to mention are asking me why I left them out.  There’s no good answer to that question.  My only excuse is that with limited space and time to write I simply couldn’t include everyone who’s good.  Lame, isn’t it.  Sorry.

Perhaps the next Chronicle story on Gloucester will include at least one segment on Gloucester’s music.  I keep that hope alive given that they referred to Fiesta as Gloucester’s own Mardi Gras, which is, of course, a musical metaphor.

3-year-old Surf Music Dancer

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Here’s some (almost) live blogging: 3-year-old Drew Rodolosi (of Gloucester) dances to the music of Johnny Carwash in the Minglewood Tavern parking lot among some classic cars and bikes this afternoon.  Wish I could do that!

“Let the Music Take You!” Photos and video of the student concert at St. Ann School

Posted on by Matthew Green

On Thursday, May 31, St. Ann School had it’s “Celebration of Art”, which included both a show of visual artwork produced by the students (which I covered yesterday) and a concert in which all the students participated. Here are some photos and video!

Some excerpts:

Some students waiting for their turn…

Several students also read essays they had written about what the American flag means to them.

The patriotic grand finale:

For all my photos of the event, in a slideshow, click here!

-Fr. Matthew Green

Weekly “Sing” at the Annie

Posted on by Matthew Green

Every week on Wednesday night, 7-9:30PM at “The Annie“, there is a singing session, open to anyone who wants to come.  We sit in a circle in the art parlor and take turns singing and/or playing (on acoustic instruments) whatever strikes our fancy, and if others know the refrain, they join in!  It’s loads of fun, and a very friendly atmosphere in which all levels of talent and experience are welcome.

Here’s another video from our session last week.  It shows Ernie Pigeon singing “For the Life of Me”.

Pennies from Heaven

Posted on by Matthew Green

Last Wednesday evening, we had a great group at The Annie for our weekly singing event (7-9:30PM).  The last time I posted about this, someone asked for video of a song – so I brought my iPhone tripod setup, and filmed!

Henry Allen is not just a generous host at The Annie, he’s also a talented performer. Here  he sings “Pennies from Heaven”.

Come and join us some time!

Boston – Symphony Hall

Posted on by Matthew Green

One of the nice things about Gloucester is that we have the conveniences of living near Boston, but the benefits of a relatively small community.  Just a few days ago, I went to a concert at Symphony Hall. It’s great to have a world-class orchestra practically right down the road!

It was my first time at Symphony Hall, and although the performance itself was fantastic, I was also rather impressed by the venue.  Here are a few photos I took with my iPhone (using the accessory lenses I reviewed earlier, in most cases the Instagram app, and in the first case, a panorama app).

Just before the performance. The message projected on the wall is telling us to turn off all cell phones and electronic devices... and I take photos of the sign with my cell phone...

Help send a Gloucester student to Berklee — TONIGHT

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

… while you’re listening to some of the best musicians our country has to offer.

Jazz is known as a one of America’s most enduring musical legacies.  And Berklee College of  Music is the top Jazz school in the world.  But it’s more than that.  Every year, Berklee graduates some of the best, Grammy-award winning musicians in all genres, including one of the most popular new genres, Americana.  (See lots of Americana music here).

Tonight, you can hear Berklee greats perform Americana, Jazz & Latin music AND your ticket price will help send a Gloucester student to music school  (more info here)

Just go to Gloucester Community Arts Charter School at 7:30 and you’ll hear

The Dwells ~ Americana singer/songwriters

And The Berklee Voices — 7 Singers and a 4 piece band singing Jazz & Latin under the direction of Diane Richardson, Associate Professor VOICE.

Tickets $10 and benefit Berklee/Gloucester Jazz & Roots Scholarship Fund (more info here).  Keep your ticket and get $5 off the next concert.

Doors open at 6pm and people are welcome to tour the school. Concert seating is at 7:30pm.

Tickets available at LIQUOR LOCKER, at the door or Call Dan at 978-876-1953

Sponsored by the gimmeLIVE Summer Concert Series and BankGloucester

If Jazz, Latin & Americana aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other choices.  One of our favorites is Inge Berge, who’s at the Cape Ann Brewery starting at 9 (you can also bop down there after the Berklee show).  If you see Inge tonight, be sure to request this song!

There are 9 venues with music tonight on Cape Ann.  See full music lineup here.

An evening of song at the Annie

Posted on by Matthew Green

Last night we had our weekly Wednesday night singing session at the Annie. It’s very informal and spontaneous; anyone who wants to show up takes a seat in our circle of chairs in the art parlor, and we go around taking turns singing (and/or playing acoustic instruments).   The group will often join in the chorus if it is a well-known song.   It’s a very open atmosphere; music of pretty much any genre, and singers any level of talent or experience (from people who usually only sing in the shower, to music professionals), are welcome. People are also welcome to come if they just want to listen.

Here is a slideshow of some spontaneous photos I took last night.

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Jazz, Latin & Americana Concert ~ Friday at Gloucester Community Arts Charter School

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Friday, April 27 at 7:30pm, two major forces in American Music @ Gloucester Community Arts Charter School Sponsored by the gimmeLIVE Summer Concert Series and BankGloucester


The Dwells ~ Americana singer/songwriters

And The Berklee Voices — 7 Singers and a 4 piece band singing Jazz & Latin under the direction of Diane Richardson, Associate Professor VOICE.

Tickets $10 and benefit Berklee Jazz & Roots Scholarship Fund (more info here).  Keep your ticket and get $5 off the next concert.

Doors open at 6pm and people are welcome to tour the school. Concert seating is at 7:30pm.

Tickets available at the door or Call Dan at 978-876-1953

One of rock’s great drummers died today

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Levon Helm, drummer and singer for The Band died today in NYC (see NYTimes story here).  You can count on one hand great drummers who are also great singers.  These two videos give you an idea of why he’s one of our favorites.  Nothing more to say.  Just watch.

Would you pay double to see a classic like Springsteen play ONLY His Old Stuff?

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

How many times have you gone to see a musician that has a library of 20-40 incredible classic songs, pay huge money for the tickets and then endure over half the songs off the new album they just put out with songs you’d never heard of?

You’re standing in the audience expecting to hear Rosalita and Badlands and three or four songs in a row go by and there isn’t a single song you recognize.

Before everyone jumps down my throat, I completely understand the need to grow as an artist and explore and create new stuff so you can satisfy your own desire to create.  I get that.  When I feel like the blog has been stagnant and we haven’t come up with new ideas in a while I get extremely irritable and it’s when we break new ground or stories that I feel most satisfied with the work we’re doing.

But what I’m talking about is strictly from the consumer’s standpoint.

Would you as a consumer be willing to pay double for a ticket to a classic band if they promised a complete show of pure top number one hits and nothing new?

Because I rarely go to concerts any more, I would.

Wouldn’t it be great if say Springsteen alternated years where one year he does the classics tour and then the following year he plays a mix of classics and new stuff?

One of our favorite Chelsea Berry Songs

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Here’s a great version of For You by Chelsea Berry filmed at the House Concert last Sunday.